Display-rack



(No Model.)

Patented July 23, 1895.

I {N0 M BL) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' P. KNOPF.

DISPLAY RAGK.

No. 543,026. Patented July 23, 1895.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK KNOPF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

"PATENT OFFIC DISPLAY-RAG K.

.SPEGIFIGA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,025, dated July 23, 1 895.

Application tiled September-Z9, 1894. Serial No. 524,508. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK KNOPF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Racks, of which the following is a'specification.

My invention relates to racks designed more particularly for jewelers use; and it consists in a novel'construction of the same whereby the rack may be conveniently folded into compact form without disturbing the articles thereon.

It is the custom with jewelers and others displaying valuable articles in their showwindows to collect the articles one by one and put them in a tray to be placed'in a safe at ing these results, is especially designed for use in connection with a work bench or table having a cover or lid, the rack in such case being hinged to the bench or table, so that the rack may be tipped as a whole and then folded to enable the cover or lid to inclose and protect the articles hung upon the rack.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective I view of my improved rack as a whole applied to the bench or table; Fig. 2, an end view showing the rack tipped and folded to allow the bench cover or lid (shown in dotted lines) to inolose the rack Figs. 3 and 4, views showing the rack proper removed from its support and folded, Fig. 4 representing the rack folded ready for placing in the safe; and Figs. 5 and 6, perspective views illustrating certain details hereinafter referred to.

A indicates a suitable base or support, which is provided with'four or more studs a,

Fig. 5, to receive the lower ends of the posts B B of the rack proper. The posts, which encircle these'studs a, are slotted, as at. b, Fig. 5, and through these slots pass the thumbscrews 0, which, screwing into the threaded holes a of the studs, press the posts with sufficient force against the studs to hold the rack securely to the base. This is a very simple and cheap arrangement; but other attaching means may obviously be substitutedsuoh, for instance, as a reversal of the construction showna hollow stud to receive the end of the post.

Posts B B, which will in practice be made about twenty inches high and placed about twelve inches apart, are connected in pairs by means of rods or bars, of which there are two sets D D, those of the lower set D being bent and connected with each other by means of links d and pins 6, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to form a hinge-joint between the two sections of the rack. The upper set of bars D are not connected, because it is desired to permit the upper half of each section of the rack to fold down parallel with its respective lower half. joint between the two sections of the rack and permit them to swing horizontally and fold into the position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to permit the upper half of each section of the rack to fold down, the posts B B are made in two parts and formed with lateral arms f, which latter are hinged or jointed to each other at their outer ends, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, thereby permitting the rack to be folded longitudinallythat is, permitting the upper half of each section to fold down parallel with the lower half, either before or after folding the rack transversely or one section upon the other.

It will be noticed that the arms ffform a firm bearing or support for the upper portions of the posts B B; but in order to prevent any accidental tipping of the upper parts of the posts swinging latches E are secured to one. part of the post to engage, each, a pin on the other part;

The watches or other articles to be carried by the rack will be suspended from the bars or rods D D bymeans of hooks F, which are These links and pins d e form a free to turn upon therods, and-thus hold the articles suspended during the folding of the rack.

When the rack proper is removed from the base it will stand by itself when folded into the form represented in Figs. 3 and 4., or it may be arranged to bear against any suitable object orsupport, thus rendering unnecessary the use of the support A. It will be found advisable, however, to use a support substantially such as shown in all cases, as it preeludes collapse and also falling of the rack, the support being advisably'fixed in position within the show case or window.

Where the rack is intended for application to a work-bench or desk, the base A will be connected by hinges g and links it or equivalent device to the bench-top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By these means the base A may be tipped and the upper half of the rack folded down so as to rest upon the desk or bench-top, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the cover orlid of the desk (shown in dotted lines) to inclose the rack.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have an exceedingly simple, cheap, and tasty display-rack which can be folded compactly with the articles thereon so as not to occupy a space exceeding ten by twelve and one-half by four inches. This compactness in folding is a inatterof considerable importance to those carrying a large stock of goods. The hinge connections cl, e, andf are so arranged as to maintain the rack-sections when folded at the proper distances apart, thereby preventing the watches or other articles from rubbing against each other.

What I claim is 1. A rack consisting of two sections, each comprising a pair of upright posts adapted to fold upon themselves; and two sets of trans verse suspending rods extending between the posts of the respective sections,the lower set of suspending rods being hinged together.

2. In combination with the posts made in two parts hinged together; the suspending rods D and D, the former, I), being hinged together; and hooks F mounted and free to turn upon the rods whereby the articles are held in a pendent position during the folding of the rack.

3. In combination with posts I5 13 made in two parts and provided with armsff hinged together; the suspending rods D and D extending from post to post; and the links and pins cl e, connecting the contiguous ends of the rods D.

4. In combination with the hinged two-part posts B B; rods D connecting the upper parts of the posts; and rods D connecting the lower parts of the posts,said rods D being hinged,

together.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand 

